Navigating the minefield of modern political discourse

Here at the SAS Group, we pride ourselves on helping you navigate the political landscape and get your message across to the right people.

But this week has provided evidence – if any were needed – that expressing a view in the modern political sphere is increasingly fraught with danger.

From claims of racism to resignation demands, and even the promise of an old-fashioned punch in the mouth, Australian political discourse has plumbed some disappointing depths this week.

On Sunday, national protests about the war in Gaza, which begat a round of contrary “anti-immigration” rallies, in turn prompted criticism of Queensland Premier David Crisafulli for the supposedly egregious sin of “failing to condemn” one side or another.

On Wednesday, a state Labor MP faced calls to resign after sharing a British stand-up comedian’s (admittedly tasteless) routine on his Facebook page.

And on Thursday, the mercurial Federal Member for Kennedy took sudden umbrage at questions about his Lebanese heritage from a journalist at a press conference, declaring “this man is a racist” and threatening to punch him in the mouth.

At every turn this week, political discourse has been a minefield of shouting and condemnation, where one wrong step could – figuratively, at least – be your last.

In a previous generation, people would have prescribed “a Bex and a good lie down” as the antidote to such angst.

But one wonders whether there is a medicine powerful enough to overcome the state of moral outrage that seems to have overtaken our body politic.

Perhaps we need to look to the younger generation for the answer. My colleague Desh has written (below) about the way Gen Z is evolving language. Maybe the answer is there.

Maybe the generation that has made moral outrage its stock in trade is the only one “chill” enough to cope with “sus” politicians and pundits.

Even those who are so sus that they “FR deserve a deck in the face”.

Otherwise – for those of us who speak English instead of Gen Z – the SAS Group is still here to help you navigate the minefield!